Limited Brands Announces the Creation of Limited Brands Canada

    
    In-country retail operations management company will be headquartered in
    Montreal





    
</pre>
<p><span class="xn-location">MONTREAL</span>, <span class="xn-chron">April 14</span> /CNW/ -- Limited Brands, Inc. (NYSE: LTD) announced today the creation of Limited Brands <span class="xn-location">Canada</span>, a Montreal-based company that will support all Limited Brands retail stores and strategic expansion in <span class="xn-location">Canada</span>, including La Senza, Bath and Body Works, Victoria's Secret Pink and Victoria's Secret (launching later this year).</p>
<pre>
    

    (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20020520/CLM001LOGO )

    
</pre>
<p>In addition to her current role as president of La Senza, Joanne Nemeroff has been named president of Limited Brands <span class="xn-location">Canada</span>.</p>
<p/>
<p>The newly created company will lay the groundwork for accelerating La Senza and the other Limited Brands' store concepts into their next stage of growth in <span class="xn-location">Canada</span>. The Canadian team, dedicated to the execution of all brands in <span class="xn-location">Canada</span>, will ensure synergy and efficiency while creating leverage and scale in operations, distribution and marketing functions as the company advances its development.</p>
<p/>
<p>"We believe a Canadian-based team dedicated to the execution of our brands will provide a foundation for effectively leveraging talent and resources across key operating disciplines. Our Canadian team, being close to the stores they support, will be most efficient and ensure a consistent, satisfying customer experience across all stores in the country," said <span class="xn-person">Martin Waters</span>, president of international for Limited Brands.</p>
<p/>
<p>Additionally, the company will consolidate the creative and merchant leadership of its international businesses at the Limited Brands World Headquarters in Columbus, Ohio, to better support customers and associates.  As a result, La Senza's creative and merchandising functions will relocate to Columbus.  This structure will better connect La Senza to enterprise resources and support its advances in product, store experience and brand position.</p>
<p/>
<p>La Senza's financial, legal, human resources, distribution, technology and all other key operational functions will remain in <span class="xn-location">Montreal</span> and report into Limited Brands <span class="xn-location">Canada</span>.</p>
<p/>
<p>"These changes advance our international growth strategy, strengthen our international operations and organization, and lay the groundwork for accelerating La Senza into the next stage of the brand's growth," said Leslie Wexner, chairman and chief executive officer of Limited Brands.</p>
<p/>
<p>Limited Brands also announced today a franchise partnership with M.H. Alshaya, Co. to operate stores in the <span class="xn-location">Middle East</span>.  Under this agreement, initial plans are to open Bath and Body Works stores later this year in the region.</p>
<p/>
<p>"As we grow our business with the support of M.H. Alshaya and its leadership, we will benefit from their success and knowledge as we strive to provide these new customers with an emotional experience that is true to our brand," said Wexner.</p>
<pre>
    


    ABOUT LIMITED BRANDS:
    
</pre>
<p>Limited Brands, through Victoria's Secret, Pink, Bath & Body Works, La Senza, C.O. Bigelow, White Barn Candle Co. and Henri Bendel, presently operates 2,967 specialty stores.  The company's products are also available online at <a href="http://www.VictoriasSecret.com">www.VictoriasSecret.com</a>, <a href="http://www.BathandBodyWorks.com">www.BathandBodyWorks.com</a>,, <a href="http://www.LaSenza.com">www.LaSenza.com</a> and <a href="http://www.HenriBendel.com">www.HenriBendel.com</a>.</p>
<pre>
    



    

For further information: Marco Wingender, [phone], [email protected]; Antoine Ouellon, [phone], ext. 242, [email protected]